Airtel partnered with Google to offer free access to Google services

Airtel partnered with Google India to launch ‘Free Zone’ service in the country. With the Free Zone service, Airtel subscribers can access Google services including Google search, Gmail and Google+ for free, without any data charge.

“In this market, where feature phones predominate, our association with Google to bring Free Zone to India will encourage millions of users to discover the power of mobile Internet for the very first time and leverage the amazing world of information search, email and social collaboration at no incremental cost.”

Airtel subscribers can avail Free Zone service by visiting Free Zone webpage. After visiting the webpage, users can go through any Google service without consuming their data plans. As the service supports Google search, users can search any web content on Google search engine for free and also Airtel will not cost any charge on visiting the first page of a website linked from search results. After going to another link in the website, users will be informed about data charges and an option to purchase an appropriate data package will also be provided to the subscriber for an ease.

Airtel subscribers can access their emails on Gmail through Free Zone service. In case of emails, users can read mails and reply to mails for free but for downloading or uploading an attachment or visiting a web link from an email will cost according to the data tariff. Identical to the web surfing, on downloading or uploading an attachment or visiting a web link, Airtel will inform the subscriber about data charges and also there will be an option to purchase an appropriate data package. The same procedure of using the Free Zone will be applicable to the Google+ usage as well.